Common Words 4 Flashcards
ignoble
dishonour
ignobility is characterised by baseless, lowness or meanness.
Synonyms : ungentle , untitled
In the 1920s, the World Series was rigged–an ignoble act which baseball took decades to recover from.
underscore
give extra weight to (a communication)
Synonyms : emphasise , emphasize , underline
While the hiking instructor agreed that carrying a first aid kit could be a good idea under certain circumstances, he underscored the importance of carrying enough water.
unscrupulous
without morals, scruples or principles
In the courtroom, the lawyer was unscrupulous, using every manner of deceit and manipulation to secure a victory for himself.
construe
interpreted in a particular way
Synonyms : interpret , see
The author’s inability to take a side on the issue was construed by both his opponents and supporters as a sign of weakness.
pundit
someone who has been admitted to membership in a scholarly field
Synonyms : initiate , learned person , savant
Steven Pinker’s credentials are unquestioned as a pundit; he has taught at MIT and Stanford, teaches at Harvard, and has published a number of influential books on cognition, language, and psychology.
temperance
the trait of avoiding excesses
Synonyms : moderation,sobriety
Welles wasn’t known for his temperance–he usually ate enough for two and drank enough for three.
ingratiate
gain favor with somebody by deliberate efforts
Even though Tom didn’t like his new boss, he decided to ingratiate himself to her in order to advance his career.
idiosyncrasy
a trait particular to a person
a behavioral attribute that is distinctive and peculiar to an individual
Synonyms : foible , mannerism
Peggy’s numerous idiosyncrasies include wearing mismatched shoes, laughing loudly to herself, and owning a pet aardvark.
petulant
easily irritated or annoyed
Synonyms : cranky , fractious , irritable , nettlesome , peckish , peevish , pettish , scratchy , techy , testy , tetchy
When Ed first met Ruth, he didn’t realize she was so petulant, but now that they are three months into their relationship, Ed feels a day doesn’t go by in which she isn’t whining about some minor issue.
aberrant
markedly different from an accepted norm
(aberration: deviating from the norm/paired with anomaly)
Synonyms : deviant , deviate
When the financial director started screaming and throwing food at his co-workers, the police had to come in to deal with his aberrant behavior.
tortuous
marked by repeated turns and bends; not straightforward
Synonyms : twisting , twisty , voluminous , winding
Because the logic behind McMahon’s side of the debate was so tortuous, his audience came out either completely confused or, worse, feeling they’d been tricked.
bumble
lacking physical movement skills, especially with the hands
Synonyms : bungling , butterfingered , ham-fisted , ham-handed , handless , heavy-handed , left-handed
Within a week of starting, the bumbling new waiter was unceremoniously fired.
copious
in abundant supply
Synonyms : ample , plenteous , plentiful , rich, voluminous
In midsummer, there are copious popsicle stands at the beach; in the winter, there are none.
largess
extreme generosity and giving
Synonyms : largesse , magnanimity , munificence , openhandedness
Uncle Frank was known for his largess, so his nephew was sad when he did not receive a present for his birthday.
confound
Real GRE: destroying
confusion
implacable
incapable of making less angry or hostile
(opposite of placate and placable)
Win or lose, the coach was always implacable, never giving the athletes an easy practice or a break.
laudable
worthy of high praise
Synonyms : applaudable , commendable , praiseworthy
To say that Gandhi’s actions were laudable is the greatest understatement; he overthrew an empire without violence.
denigrate
charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone
defame
Synonyms : asperse , besmirch , calumniate , defame , slander , smear , smirch , sully
Count Rumford denigrated the new theory of heat, demonstrating that it was wholly inadequate to explain the observations.
apocryphal
being of questionable authenticity
The web is notorious for sandwiching apocryphal stories between actual news.
pragmatic
guided by practical experience and observation rather than theory
A practical approach to problems/affairs
Synonyms : hard-nosed , hardheaded , practical
Rather than make a philosophical appeal to the Congressmen, the Speaker decided to take a far more pragmatic approach, making small side-deals that would add votes to his bill.
forthcoming
available when required or as promised
Synonyms : approaching , coming , upcoming
The President announced that the senators were about to reach a compromise, and that he was eager to read the forthcoming details of the bill.
adjective: at ease in talking to others
Synonyms : extroverted , outgoing
As a husband, Larry was not forthcoming: if Jill didn’t demand to know details, Larry would never share them with her.
soporific
inducing mental lethargy; sleep inducing
Synonyms : hypnagogic , hypnogogic , somniferous , somnific , soporiferous,narcotic
Although the professor is brilliant, his bland monotone gives his lectures a soporific effect.
intransigent
unwilling to change one’s beliefs or course of action
Synonyms : adamant , adamantine , inexorable
Despite many calls for mercy, the judge remained intransigent, citing strict legal precedence.
pedantic
marked by a narrow focus on or display of learning especially its trivial aspects
Synonyms : academic , donnish
Professor Thompson was regarded as an expert in his field, but his lectures were utterly pedantic, focused on rigorous details of the most trivial conventions in the field.
abstruse
difficult to understand; incomprehensible
Synonyms : deep , recondite
Physics textbooks can seem so abstruse to the uninitiated that readers feel as though they are looking at hieroglyphics.
expound
add details or explanation; clarify the meaning; state in depth
Synonyms : dilate , elaborate , enlarge , expand , expatiate , exposit , flesh out , lucubrate
The CEO refused to expound on the decision to merge our department with another one, and so I quit.
discrete
distinct
discreet
secret
exalt
praise or glorify
Synonyms : extol , glorify , laud , proclaim
The teenagers exalted the rock star, covering their bedrooms with posters of him.
incorrigible
impervious to correction by punishment
Tom Sawyer seems like an incorrigible youth until Huck Finn enters the novel; even Sawyer can’t match his fierce individual spirit.
hackneyed
lacking significance through having been overused
Synonyms : banal , commonplace , old-hat , shopworn , stock , threadbare , timeworn , tired , trite , well-worn
Cheryl rolled her eyes when she heard the lecturer’s hackneyed advice to “be true to yourself.”
burgeon
grow and flourish
China’s housing market is burgeoning, but some predict that the growth is merely a bubble and will burst much like the U.S. real estate bubble of 2008.
admonitory
serving to warn; expressing reproof or reproach especially as a corrective
Synonyms : cautionary , exemplary , monitory , warning
At the assembly, the high school vice-principal gave the students an admonitory speech, warning them of the many risks and dangers of prom night.
contingent
a gathering of persons representative of some larger group
A small contingent of those loyal to the king have gathered around the castle to defend it.
adjective: possible but not certain to occur
Whether the former world champions can win again this year is contingent upon none of its star players getting injured.
acerbic
harsh in tone
Synonyms : acerb , acid , acrid , bitter , blistering , caustic , sulfurous , sulphurous , virulent , vitriolic
Most movie critics are acerbic towards summer blockbusters, often referring to them as garbage.
implausible
describing a statement that is not believable
Synonyms : farfetched
The teacher found it implausible that the student was late to school because he had been kidnapped by outlaws on horseback.
espouse
to adopt or support an idea or cause
Synonyms : adopt , embrace , sweep up
As a college student, Charlie espoused Marxism, growing his beard out and railing against the evils of the free-market.
ostentatious
intended to attract notice and impress others; tawdry or vulgar
Synonyms : pretentious
Matt wanted to buy stone lions for front of the house, but Cynthia convinced him that such a display would be too ostentatious for a modest house in an unassuming neighborhood.
